tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377057412446264720.post2741263261740931733..comments2023-07-10T00:13:42.099-04:00Comments on <a href="http://antipastohw.blogspot.com/">Antipasto Hardware Blog</a>: 5 Ways Open Source Hardware is Like Big PharmaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377057412446264720.post-46634331121463131792009-06-26T10:16:51.718-04:002009-06-26T10:16:51.718-04:00Do you have by any chance and updates regarding th...Do you have by any chance and updates regarding the OSHW projects? Like EqualizerShield or Illuminato 3?merlin13https://www.blogger.com/profile/16232108572637427267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377057412446264720.post-54731819932222880532009-06-03T11:48:46.944-04:002009-06-03T11:48:46.944-04:00Glad to be of help :-)
BTW, if you think about pos...Glad to be of help :-)<br />BTW, if you think about posting more projects, please think about some smaller/cheaper projects that while already available somewhere else (like an SD card shield for example, or an I2C memory shield) would probably be a good addition and would attract more people that are willing to pay something like $20-30 but for which $50 is too much.<br />Just a thought.merlin13https://www.blogger.com/profile/16232108572637427267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377057412446264720.post-86107270801797052012009-06-03T10:53:34.481-04:002009-06-03T10:53:34.481-04:00That's a really interesting idea... I didn'...That's a really interesting idea... I didn't really think about it that way. Firstly, you made me think that the better measure in Open Source Hardware is probably not Return on Interest ROI, it's probably Return on Participation ROP. And maybe there are two types of return on participation: there's one where you participate by building stuff, and then another where you participate by pitching in money. It might be possible in that case to redirect some of the ROI for the early funded boards to anyone how did the Fund-5 option, in order to make the 5% minimum guaranteed (or whatever it would be called at a bank). In either case, it puts the emphasis on participation, because that's what individuals (like me) like to do! I think I'm going to try this out with the handful of projects that I was going to post to the OSHW bank in a couple weeks... Thanks a lot :)Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16654483670622465259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377057412446264720.post-15408613814383020302009-06-03T09:52:25.648-04:002009-06-03T09:52:25.648-04:00Excellent points you brought up, Matt, really grea...Excellent points you brought up, Matt, really great ideas to think about! And while I don't have the expertise or experience in OSHW, I'd like to make a couple points.<br>First of all, I think that whoever comes up with the OSHW device or PCB or whatever it is, should make some money no matter what. Finances left aside, the designer/maker/inventor should make some money. Even when the money for the project comes from somewhere/somebody else. So, in the case of OSHW bank, it is awesome that you sell the boards at cost but you should make something; at least say 5% - at least! (which is not much, I understand some kit makers - not assembled, mind you, just kits - are making over 100%!! in OSHW bank's case the assembling works is way bigger than just putting kits together).<br /><br>Second, whoever invests in OSHW projects should be at least a little bit interested in the work that's being done. This in my opinion would make everyone interested in a way in the final product and not just some in the product and some in making money. I know this would dramatically reduce the number of potential investors but still, it would not create situations like in other investment opportunities where investors are interested only in profit. To bring this again in the context of OSHW bank, the ideas of <br />Buy 1/Build1/2/3 are great but I would also change the things for Fund5 something like this: you make 5% on a device no matter what. Somebody invests money in Fund5 for example, they could get back the current 15% you give (or less); but if they are willing to take a board instead of the profit, you could give up your 5% and basically for a Fund5 investment the investor could get a board (there is the shipping cost in top of that but this could be arranged somehow).<br />This way you could still attract potential investors interested only in money but you could also attract people interested in financing something that they want to have in the end.<br /><br>Just my 2 cents.<br />Thanks a lot for posting your ideas!merlin13https://www.blogger.com/profile/16232108572637427267noreply@blogger.com